Device with multi-structural contact elements

Abstract

A contact device with resilient contact elements is disclosed. The resilient contact elements have primary structures and secondary structures. The primary structures and secondary structures have contact surfaces for engaging a working surface. The primary structures are preferably molded structures with hardness value between 10 to 90 Shores A. The secondary structures are nodules, squeegees, arrays of nodules or squeegees and matrices but are preferably bristle structures formed from plastic resins, wherein the device is configured clean dentition.

1 - 35 . (Canceled).  
   
   
       36 . A device comprising; 
 a) a base structure formed of interspersed rigid segments and flexible segments, such that the support structure can bend or deform through the flexible segments; and    b) resilient contact elements protruding from the the support.    
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36 , further comprising bristles.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein a portion of the bristles protrude from rigid segments of the base structure.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein a portion of the bristles protrude from flexible segments of the base structure.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein a portion of the resilient contact members are nodules with wiping tips.  
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the wiping tips are curved, angled, pointed or rounded.  
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 36 , resilient contact members comprises one or more squeegees with squeegee edges.  
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 42 , where the squeegee edges are curved, angled, pointed or rounded.  
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein walls of the one or more squeegees are tapered.  
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the resilient contact elements comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, latex, rubber and elastomer.  
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the resilient contact elements have a hardness in a range of 10 to 90 Shore A.  
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 36 , further comprising bristles protruding from portions of the resilient contact elements.  
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the device is a detrition cleaning device.  
   
   
       49 . A device comprising: 
 a) a support structure formed from a first material;    b) resilient structures formed from a second material, the resilient structures being resiliently coupled to the support structure and comprising a base extending in an outward direction from the support structure and walls extending in an upward direction from the base; and    c) bristles protruding in the upward direction from the base of the resilient structure.    
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 49 , further comprising bristles protruding from the support structure.  
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 49 , further comprising bristles protruding from a portion of the walls of the resilient structure.  
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the resilient structures comprise nodules.  
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the tips of the nodules are curved, angled, pointed or rounded.  
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the resilient structures comprise squeegees.  
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 54 , where edges of the squeegees are curved, angled, pointed or rounded.  
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 49 , wherein the resilient structures have hardness values in a range of 10 to 90 Shore A.  
   
   
       57 . A device comprising: 
 a) a support structure comprising a first material:    b) wiping structures comprising a second material that is different from the first material with resilient base portions extending outward in a first direction from the support structure and tapered wall portions extending upward from the resilient base portions in a second direction to form top wiping tips or edges protruding in the second direction, wherein the wiping structures are resiliently coupled to the support structure; and    c) bristles protruding upward from the support structure.    
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 57 , further comprising bristles protruding from the wiping structures.  
   
   
       59 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein the tapered wall portions comprise at least one of nodules and squeegees.  
   
   
       60 . A device comprising a support structure comprising a first material, one or more wiping structures comprising a second material, the one or more wiping structures being resiliently coupled to the support structure and having a base extending outward in a first direction from the support structure and walls extending upward from the base in a second direction, wherein the walls terminate in the second direction to form top wiping tips or edges, and bristles protruding from the one or more wiping structures and the support structure.  
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the top wiping tips or edges are curved, angled, pointed or rounded.  
   
   
       62 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more wiping structures are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, latex, rubber and elastomer, the material a hardness in a range of 10 to 90 Shore A.